I didn’t wish on a falling star but my dream just came true! Nothing came close to the joy I felt as I hugged my nieces, nephew, cousins and best friend. It’s something I dreamt about for twelve years or more! Mega-wish granted!

I’m still in cloud nine over our holiday but before my ‘senior moment’ takes over, I’d like to journal our fun memories (read: bloopers) in my very own travelogue. With thousands of photos, I’ve hand-picked a few that are just too good to be kept in my personal computer.

Toronto…finally!

Departure Date: 26 September 2012; The journey: Wellington-Sydney-Los Angeles-New York-Toronto; Time to destination: 30hours, really! At first I thought, that would be too tiresome. But then, travelling with daughter, Regine, was like “hitting two birds in one stone” as they say!

NYC lay-over

She’s a caring daughter and a dear friend whom I confide and share mushy stuff with. A perfect chance for us to catch up on our missed mother and daughter ‘one-on-ones’ since she moved to her flat in Auckland, while we enjoy our holiday together, snap! Say hello, Toronto!

28 September: Ate Gie and her family treated us to something really awesome. First stop of our holiday was supposedly Niagara Falls but a well-planned detour was inevitable – shopping at Lundy’s Lane outlet shops! I was happy simply browsing around, but Ate Gie introduced me to my newest friend. A deep-green Michael Kors buttery soft leather bag, very chic! Green is not a color I would personally pick but she was so spot on, luv it! Thanks to my ever-generous sis for this “welcome to Canada” gift as I fondly coined it.

woohoo!

Finally arriving at Niagara Falls, we didn’t waste any minute. Ate Gie treated us to a two-day adventure pass. This included several activities including a “Journey Behind the Falls” experience. We found ourselves ‘wet ‘n wild’ as we accessed a tunnel that allowed us to actually view the waterfalls from beneath, cool stuff!

literally behind the falls!

How can I forget the “Maid of the Mist” ferry ride … no, it isn’t the ‘Love Boat’ for honeymooners but you’ll certainly hear your heartbeat racing as the boat came closer and closer to the towering waterfalls. What an experience!

Awesome photo, i can almost feel the breeze! Thanks, Noel!

At sunset, it would have been nice to indulge in a hot spa bath to wind down and have a relaxing sleep. But the night seemed so young; hitting the bed wasn’t yet in the agenda. Instead, I found myself at the window gazing over the lighted waterfalls and skyline of the surrounding theme parks.

I’m lost for words to aptly describe that feeling as I admire the view from our room at the 28^th floor of The Embassy Suites. And so, we were “Sleepless in Niagara”! Careless and free, it was an all-girls’ night out trying new and crazy stuff … 4D movie fun ride, first taste of Dippin’ Dots and BeaverTails, and a majestic night view of the falls atop the Niagara SkyWheel, a 175-foot tall ferries wheel. Who says only teenyboppers can scream and shout?

Isabel is 3!

30 September: We’re back at Ate Gie’s house in Toronto for our dear Isabel’s 3rd birthday, the highlight of the holiday! This kid is the smartest and the most ‘opinionated’ I’d ever seen. I teased her while in the car during one of our road trips and I whined “I really want to sleep now, are we there yet?” and to my surprise she hushed me in the cutest way and said, “Tita Maganda (brainwashed kid!), we’re not there yet … be patient”. Mind you, she’s only three years old! While on board, you’ll find her reading books, water-coloring and having the most fun over birthday cards she received, actually much more than the presents! Amazing kid!

We haven’t had enough of Toronto yet, but Ate Gie never run out of great ideas that made us drool over Canada’s must-sees! So it’s time to gear for a five-day road trip north of Ontario. Montreal, Quebec and Ottawa, here we come!

En route to Montreal, we had another stunning stop! It felt like time-travelling to circa 1920s as we pulled away from the pier at Rockport, Ontario. We took a picturesque one-hour ferry ride gliding through several islands, ranging from tiny ones with small cottages to Victorian-inspired estates and mystique castles.

Thus the name ‘1000 Islands’ scattered along the St. Lawrence River shared between Canada and the USA. I was totally hooked with the commentary throughout the ride that spoke about tales of love and power in these magnificent islets. I wonder who are the people living there!

1 October: Montreal … if I were to go on a second honeymoon, this place is on top of my list! I luv rustic Montreal. The city walls and intriguing alleys seemingly talk to you from within … simply majestueux! There’s something in the air that made me say, “Wish you were here” … mushy me! It gives a feel of old European charm with a mix of horse drawn carriage, mood-lighted city walls, an array of French café and fine dining, and flute music in the air … a perfect setting for the hopeless romantic! But you’ll need to learn a French line or two! Oui!

someone really enjoyed shopping!

2 October: Quebec … if you are a shopaholic craving for vintage clothing, hand-made shoes, unique artworks and intricate souvenirs, this is your haven! Indulge and curb your shopping appetite in this little “town” in Old Quebec where you’ll find quaint boutiques on both sides of the stone-clad road. Vehicles aren’t allowed there, only shoppers!

shopping in Old Quebec!

Top this treat with a night at Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac and you’ll feel like a princess!

unofficial visit!

3 October: Ottawa … we paid a “courtesy call” to The Parliament House and surrounding CBD. Ottawa will always remind me of a new experience. I’m not a fan of water rides and there’s no way I’m riding an amphibian bus … but I did! ‘Lady Dive’ was so irresistible! I jumped into a window seat to get myself the best view of the city tour. Too excited that I lifted a tiny black latch which I thought was a window lock and off came the emergency alarm! Ooooops, don’t panic, it’s just silly me!

missing him?

The tour guide was wacky and his commentary was quite interesting as we drove around the CBD showcasing a good mix of historic and contemporary buildings in Ottawa. Just when I thought it was the end of the line, our bus gracefully glided over the river bank and off to the water. Whew, that was something different! The ride wasn’t only entertaining, we’ve had a good dose of Ottawa History 101 too.

Our home in Toronto!

4 October: Feeling like gypsies with luggage filled with soiled clothes, we headed back to Ate Gie’s home in Toronto to have a day’s rest … and do our laundry!

I thought at this stage that we were getting too spoiled, but wait there’s more! We haven’t seen one of Canada’s top tourist destinations. A significant part of the crazy itinerary was a visit to Alberta, Calgary. And so we boarded a 4-hour domestic flight the very next day!

Bow Lake, Banff, Alberta … total serenity!

6-8 October: Banff, Alberta … the site of the famous Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise, world class ski fields and hot springs. There is shopping advantage there too! Alberta is the only province in North America that doesn’t impose provincial sales tax, a feature that attracts tourists, workers and business owners. So what better thing to do than shop and eat to your heart’s desire! But only in Alberta!

felt like home …

We stayed for two nights at the Hidden Ridge Resort, tucked away on Tunnel Mountain with beautifully crafted log houses and awesome view of the town and Canadian Rockies. I can almost smell the green forest and wood burning in the fireplace as I’m writing this! I love Banff and the surrounding snowcapped mountains as it reminded me of Queenstown back home in NZ. I actually described the place as “Queenstown on steroid” coz it’s just as beautiful but utterly massive!

Then, it’s time for goodbyes!

12 October: Quite a sad day ‘coz Noel’s family is going back home to Singapore. That moment still clings to my heart when Ate Gie and I hugged him tight … and he whispered to us “Hindi kayang pantayan ang saya” (Nothing compares to the joy).

with my youngest bro!

He made me cry – he is after all the youngest sibling in the family, and for a long time the darling of our maternal home in the Philippines. I’ll terribly miss them, especially Isabel, the family’s bundle of joy! I hope to see them again soon, perhaps on their second trip to NZ!

You may think we’ve reached the anti-climax … but not really!

Big Apple first-timer!

Ate Gie won’t let us go home without a bite at the Big Apple! This is the ‘exclamation point’ of this unbelievably, crazy, happy holiday!

at the heart of NYC …

12-14 October: “I wanna be a part of it, New York, New York”! First-timers Regine and myself feasted our eyes on the city’s sparkle right outside our New York “home”, Marriott Hotel at Times Square! I was thrilled!

where’s John?

An exciting part of this episode was meeting my cousin Len whom I haven’t seen in 15 long years. She took a 5-hour flight from Phoenix, Arizona to NYC to share this special time with us! A great reason for us to ‘paint the town red’ and make the most of our weekend! Remember the café in the movie “Serendipity”? Well, I was somehow hoping to see John Cusack there but just as happy with our all-girls’ late night out!

reminiscing our ADB days …

Our stars were aligned! Things just fell in place for me and my bestfriend, Mariz, a former colleague at Asian Development Bank, who now lives in Washington DC. It was lovely to see her again after 15 years! Timing was just perfect ‘coz her family visited New Jersey at the same time we were in NYC so she took time out to meet us too … what a great friend I have, I feel so blessed!

If everthing’s just a dream, it’s time to wake up!

Thank you, Ate Gie!

15 October: It was a short-lived romance with the ‘land of maple leaves’. The time has come to end this momentary infidelity … I’m home-bound to my beloved Wellington!

Endless thanks to our gracious hosts Ate Gie, Kuya Erwin, and kids Agnes, Noysi, Elleni and Mikki. And to my youngest brother, Noel, his wife Cecille and little darling, Isabel, for sharing this holiday! I can still hear our laughter to this day! I love you, Ate Gie!

It’s a cliché, but really “parting is such a sweet sorrow”. I’ve shed tears of joy for I know I’m bringing back a memory to last a lifetime. Seen great places and embraced ONE big happy family – what else can I ask for?

Well, Christmas is just around the corner and people are making their own lists, I don’t have to, ‘coz my stocking’s just been filled!